Jury selection is underway for the trial of a man charged in the kidnapping, rape and killing of Ohio State University student Reagan Tokes.
The body of 21-year-old Tokes was found at the Scioto Grove Metro Park in February 2017. Defendant Brian Golsby, a convicted sex offender, was arrested and charged with aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
Franklin County prosecutor Ron O'Brien is pursuing the death penalty.
Police say 30-year-old Golsby kidnapped Tokes as she was walking to her car, following a shift at a Short North bar. Golsby is accused of raping Tokes and making her drive him to ATMs to withdraw money, before shooting her and dumping her body at the Grove City park.
Police say they matched Golsby’s DNA with evidence from Tokes’ car, which was found near his Columbus residence. Golsby was also on GPS monitoring at the time of Tokes’ death, and prosecutors say GPS data places him at the location where her body was found.
A judge says the process of choosing jurors could span this week.
So far, the judge declined a request by Golsby's attorneys to move the trial away from Columbus. The defense has argued Golsby can't get a fair trial in Franklin County because of publicity about the case.
Last September, Tokes’ parents and state lawmakers introduced HB 365, the “Reagan Tokes Act,” which would tighten GPS monitoring of newly-released inmates and require indeterminate sentences for people convicted of first- and second-degree felonies. That bill was referred to the House criminal justice committee but has not advanced since October.
Golsby pleaded guilty in 2011 to robbery and attempted rape charges. He was released from prison in November 2016.
